Under the general direction of the Senior Program Coordinator of Special Programs, the incumbent in the Student Services Professional II (Financial Aid Counselor assigned to Federal Work Study Program) performs moderately complex professional student service work; with work occurring more independently and in a wider variety of situations using professional judgement in circumstances that warrant, a case by case review. The objective of this position is to support the university’s effort to attract and maintain qualified students through timely and effective processing of the Financial Aid Application by providing quality customer service regarding financial aid eligibility; analyze federal and state financial aid applications to determine student and family financial need; prepares and awards financial aid packages; and performs all duties related to the financial aid process. Provide guidance on programs and support the timely distribution of financial aid to meet University obligations.

The Student Services Professional II utilizes high-level analytical and interpersonal skills to investigate and resolve student issues through performance of a wide variety of tasks that include, but may not be limited to; verification and file analysis, updates to student files; policy and procedural updates for assigned program(s), Federal Work Study (FWS) and consistent use of professional judgment. The incumbent oversees on and off campus work study employers and works in collaboration with appropriate campus departments that manage the hiring, payroll and accounts payable components for employers to ensure compliance with Federal/State regulations, CSU policies.

The Financial Aid Counselor serves as the “subject matter expert” to the Student Service Center staff including day to day support and assistance with issues related to financial aid that are escalated and/or cannot be resolved. The incumbent ensures problems are resolved in an efficient and effective manner, works collaboratively and effectively with Student Service Center staff to meet customer expectations in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

The Financial Aid Counselor is responsible for independent student advisement and finalization of assigned student case load for awards of grants, loans, scholarships and work-study adhering to established and appropriate disbursal, recordkeeping, reporting, and verification procedures as well as the necessary data entry function(s). The incumbent must be familiar with university, state, and federal financial aid regulations and procedures.

The Financial Aid Counselor serves as the primary contact with students and prospective students and participates in university recruitment and retention activities. They have responsibility for providing information sessions for students, parents and families in support of various outreach efforts and will need to effectively communicate and counsel individual students or groups of students and their families.

Department Information

Our mission to our students is to help students and in many cases their families to search for, apply, receive and maintain eligibility for various types of financial aid. Financial aid education is offered through individual counseling, campus marketing activities and group presentations. Staff also undertakes research and resolution of individual student issues. The office strives to provide timely and accurate financial aid processing that is in full compliance with all federal, state and university regulations.

For more information on Financial Aid, please visit: https://www.csus.edu/faid/

Work Hours

Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. Work hours may vary depending on operations.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge and Abilities:

Working knowledge of the practices, procedures and activities of the program(s) to which assigned; general knowledge of the methods and problems of organizational and program management. General knowledge of research and interview techniques; and of the principles of individual and group behavior.

Ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations; use initiative and resourcefulness in planning work assignments and in implementing long-range program improvements; obtain factual and interpretative information through interviews; reason logically; collect, compile, analyze and evaluate data and make verbal or written presentations based on these data; advise students individually and in groups on routine matters where required; recognize multicultural, multi-sexed and multi-aged value systems and work accordingly; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, CSU administrators, student organizations, private and public agencies and others in committee work, and student advising and community contacts; and, rapidly acquire a general knowledge of the overall operation, functions and programs of the campus to which assigned. Demonstrate ability to make decisions and carry through actions having implications with regard to other program or service areas.

Possession of these knowledge and abilities typically is demonstrated through the Experience requirements below.

Experience:

Possession of these knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of two years of professional experience in one of the student services program areas or in a related field; experience should give evidence of competence and indicate the potential for further growth. A master’s degree in a job‑related field may be substituted for one year of the professional experience.

Education:

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration or a job‑related field. Additional specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year‑for‑year basis.

Required Qualifications

1. Two years of professional experience in one of the student services program areas or in a related field.
2. Experience advising students individually and in group settings.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of basic counseling techniques and ability to obtain factual data and interpretive information through interviews and provide guidance to students and parents.
2. Knowledge of and ability to apply knowledge of Title IV regulations, federal tax laws and experience with the interpretation and application of regulations performing the verification and awarding process.
3. Ability to work independently and possess self-direction skills to be able to initiate plans, organize, prioritize priorities, multi-task, and coordinate work in a fast paced organization.
4. Responsible for maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range of students, faculty, staff and external constituents.
5. Knowledge of State Financial Aid regulations, requirements, and guidelines and ability to apply knowledge of the specific requirements for purposes of determining correct course of action related to assigned tasks; state aid programs may include but not limited to; Cal Grant, State University Grant, and Middle Class Scholarship.
6. Knowledge of Federal Financial Aid regulations, requirements and guidelines and ability to apply knowledge of the specific requirements for purposes of determining correct course of action related to assigned tasks; federal aid programs may include but not limited to; Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Loans and Federal Work Study.
7. Experience handling information that is sensitive and personal in nature in a delicate, caring, and helpful manner.
8. Experience assisting students on financial aid programs and general academic information related to their area of study by offering factual data as it relates to the student inquiry.
9. Detailed oriented with strong analytical and problem solving skills.
10. Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with a diverse population both verbally and in writing.
11. Proficient in general use of standard office equipment and common software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Internet, etc.)
12. Ability to utilize common student administrative software systems (e.g. PeopleSoft, Document Imaging, and Workflow Systems) to retrieve and review information when serving students.
13. Experience performing basic mathematical calculations to recalculate financial aid data and awards.

Conditions of Employment

• Ability to pass a background check.